Where do musicians draw their melodies from?

Question

It has been in my head for so long. I am a visual artist, animator, I do motion graphics, 3D artwork and most of my work is done visually. I am puzzled by this question. Visual artists, they draw their inspiration from everyday life. their vision. Things we see or even imagine. Something within what we see is so profound and true, that when is moved to the paper, canvas, digital world makes a perfect sense and people feel that beauty. We of course can manipulate what we see. Interpret it. What I don't get is where do amazing composers, musicians find their scores and melodies? I mean, if it weren't for the TV, digital world, papers, art magazines etc, a visual artist would still have his/her eyes to experience our world and have something to interpret. But music? Although I can see patterns of rhythm in nature... I can't hear any music playing in nature! (which is purely mathematical AFAIK, notes have a precise order with a mathematical definition of the wavelength between them) How and where do you guys come up with those astounding melodies and artworks?

Answer 1

Hi, such in your example as visual artists; composers also can draw their inspiration from everyday life. For a film composer a scene can be a starting point. Everything has a rhythm and tempo to begin with. Most composers find their chord progressions first and the movement of these chord patterns start suggesting melodic themes. Other times could be the opposite as well. Melodic ideas possibly need harmony and that can be the 2nd stage as the chords following the melody.